Even the simplest energy saving methods can make a big difference in your monthly electric bill. Your residential energy consumption can be reduced by closing the refrigerator, turning off your electric water heaters, and closing rooms that are not in use to heat or cool. You can also install systems or devices that automate, regulate and do the heavy lifting to improve your energy efficiency. These solutions can be used to control load or smart energy management systems.
What is a load controller?
A load controller, also known as a peak demand controller, is a device that limits the amount of electricity your home can draw at once from the grid. The device can be remote controlled from your electrical panel. These devices can be used by home energy customers to reduce their household’s power consumption and save electricity. These devices can be used for load control switches, appliances and electrical loads on and off. These devices can also be used for regulating the power consumption of individual loads. A utility program or third-party energy provider can also operate load controllers to lower your household’s peak energy consumption. Power companies can regulate your energy through direct load control programs. This involves turning your electric water heater and air conditioner on or off during peak demand response times. What does it mean for residential customers? In exchange, energy providers can offer financial incentives and/or cost reductions on electricity bills. Customers pay a lot more when they use the grid power during peak usage times. The residential load controllers help to balance the peak demand from the homes and regulate spikes in usage. This all benefits the power company. The solar load controlling (also known as a solar charger controller) regulates the battery voltage and controls DC electrical loads.
What is a residential load control device?
A load controller is installed next to your circuit panel and connects to 220v appliances, such as your air conditioners and pool pumps, clothes dryers and water heaters. It also monitors their power plant consumption. The load controller, also known as demand controller, shuts down individual appliances when the power demand rises. This is done by a process called load shedding. You can pre-set the order in which they will be prioritized. Let’s say you want to cut down on your family’s use of A/C to lower energy costs. This assumes that you don’t reside in an area with a load control program. You can install your own residential load control device and set the limits based on what you are willing to pay. This forces your family to conserve energy and find alternative ways to cool down when the load reaches its limit. It also means that those working remotely must deal with unfavorable temperatures. How can demand controllers help you save money? You can lower your monthly electric bill by reducing your demand. However, the amount of cost savings depends on your lifestyle and how much effort and time you are willing to put into it. Your estimated energy savings can be calculated based on your home’s square footage and kwh.
Commonly Controlled Loads
Certain appliances and electronic devices are at the top of the priority list when it comes to load control. These “power hogs”, which are commonly installed in residential load controllers, can be controlled by these devices:
- Air conditioners
- Pumps / heaters for pool areas
- Water heaters
- Electric dryer
- Stove / oven
Can a Residential Load Control Controller Save You Money
A load controller can help you save money on your energy bills. However, there are some cons to this system. Which one is best for you? Load controllers are not the best option for residential customers who work at home during the day. It might sound smart to cap your power consumption, but it can be a disaster if you have to use air conditioning in the hottest parts of the day. You will need to adapt your lifestyle to meet the residential load guidelines to see significant savings in electricity bills.
This means that you won’t use hot water, do laundry, or cook in the oven during peak hours. It is usually when everyone’s at home and you are most in need of it. Load controllers, on the other hand, are less responsive than energy management systems. The load control caps are hard for homeowners to adjust to, with few options for workarounds.
What is the average energy savings after installing a residential load control? First, you need to do some math. Smart Main Panels’ appliance calculator can help you estimate your annual energy consumption and the cost of operating specific appliances. Once you have calculated how much you spend to use them, you can then calculate the average cost savings of an energy management system. Here is a formula to calculate the average payback time for solar panels.
Are there alternatives to load controllers?
Yes, solar customers can use battery technology as an alternative to load controllers. The batteries from Tesla and LG can store solar energy and provide homes with an alternate energy source for peak hours.
This is to reduce peak demand and after the sun sets. The batteries can be charged with the sun’s energy and are often coupled with solar power. They will soon be able to power a portion of our homes’ energy needs.
Conclusion for Electrical Load Controllers
How can you lower your home’s energy usage without compromising convenience or comfort? While an intelligent energy management platform directly responds to your objectives, a load controller regulates the movements of your home during peak hours.
A product such as the Smart Main Panel is a great choice if you are considering installing a load control system. As a home solar manager, Smart Main Panel reacts to a range of variables, such as demand caps, circuit schedules, and time-of-use rates. You can also input your preferences and inputs to help reduce energy waste.
